alanw

Hi Delta Flyers,

I wonder if one of you wiser ones can help me with something.

I'm trying to book flights for two people Aug 10-14, hopefully in J. Last night I was doing random searches on rumbo.es and after selecting "First" for class, a DL flight came up BCN-ATL-SEA, J over the water and F domestic for 2264EUR including taxes (DL115 and DL114, both on B763 - I could even choose seats in the half-full J cabin). I'm guessing this was an "I" fare? I made a call to confirm that the times would work and went on to book but my session had timed out and when I started over the same flights were coming up close to 4000EUR.

No amount of searching on rumbo.es, deltaairlines.com, or ita turn up anything but the nearly-4K fares. This morning I called DL in the US and the agent insisted that there is no way to buy an I fare this close to travel and said I probably saw a "special travel agent fare" that they can't sell me. Rumbo.es tells me they don't have any fares like that - only those from various GDS.

So, I called a local travel agent and explained the situation. This afternoon they sent a fax saying that I fares aren't available, but that they have a Q fare which is the same, in business, that appears to be about the same price though involves combining two fares - one to NYC and then a Y fare to SEA. I can't talk to them now until tomorrow morning but want to be prepared when I call. Their price was 44xxEUR and I am guessing that is per person (but anything is possible...I don't think we were communicating very well).

So, the budget is 2400EUR/person for flights. This will be my only non-coach option. Can someone tell me:

1. Is the Q fare actually going to be in the C cabin, or are they sadly mistaken?
2. Provided that it is, is that 2200EUR/person, or was the 4400 each, more than likely?
3. WTH did that fare I got last night come from, and can I get it somewhere else if I'm a bit flexible on dates?

Sorry this went so long - I really tried not to ramble too much.

Traveller

I just went to DL.com and priced this. I'm not sure if you are starting in BCN or SEA, I did BCN-SEA on Aug 10 and return Aug 14. I'm coming up with I on the overseas and F on the other segments:

Departure: Barcelona,Spain to Seattle, WA on Wed, 10 Aug 2005
Return: Seattle,WA to Barcelona, Spain on Sun, 14 Aug 2005



Total ticket price (including taxes/fees): EUR 2338.23 View Fare rules

Carrier
Flight # Cabin &
Class Departs Arrives Stops
From Time/Date To Time/Date
Delta 115 Business (I) BCN 1:05pm
10 Aug 2005 ATL 5:10pm
10 Aug 2005 0
Delta 197 First (F) ATL 6:41pm
10 Aug 2005 SEA 8:51pm
10 Aug 2005 0
Delta 1178 First (F) SEA 8:13am
14 Aug 2005 JFK 4:29pm
14 Aug 2005 0
Delta 94 Business (I) JFK 5:50pm
14 Aug 2005 BCN 7:45am
15 Aug 2005 0

MachOne

The DL CSR is correct. I fares are only availalble at more than 50 days from date of travel.

The Q fare is coach.

Normally buying a domestic Y fare will allow you an automatic upgrade to FC at time of booking - if FC seats are available - it's called a Y-UP fare. However, IIRC, SEA-JFK is now 100% Song, so buying a Y fare on that route is a waste of money since there is no FC cabin on Song.

MO

alanw

Thank you! I knew I wasn't crazy! What am I doing wrong?

Traveller, would you be willing to post the fare rules? Or tell me exactly what steps you used? Now to figure out how to get this thing booked.

Traveller

I went to www.delta.com

Planning & Reservations > Plan a FLight > Online reservations > Reservations

I used the default option of "Round Trip". Entered BCN and SEA Aug 10 Morning Aug 14 Morning

I did leave it at 1 passenger, maybe there is only 1 seat at this fare??

Entered Business Elite / Business and checked "Search by schedule"

I picked the first selection on both the outbound (DL 115 and 197) and the return (1178 and 94). It gave me those fares.

BUT, when I went to look at the fare rules I get an error:


I'll check 2 passengers in a minute.

Traveller

Still getting around the same price for 2 passengers:

Departure: Barcelona,Spain to Seattle, WA on Wed, 10 Aug 2005
Return: Seattle,WA to Barcelona, Spain on Sun, 14 Aug 2005



Ticket price per passenger (including taxes/fees): EUR 2338.23
Total ticket price EUR 4676.46

BTW, I am not signed into Delta with my SkyMiles number. I don't know if that would make a difference or not.

alanw

Well I can't believe it. I followed your instructions (I was searching by price) and it let me BUY two tickets! I have a confirmation mail with a reservation #, but no e-ticket # and it doesn't look like it's hit my CC yet. Hopefully they will do it soon. :fingerscrossed:

Thank you, Traveller!

MachOne

"...less expensive fares may be available at delta.com"

Good Luck Alanw! By all rights, DL should not be selling an I fare 9 days out.

I'd suspect a bug at Delta.com (naw that couldn't be?). Now let's see if they honor your purchases.

MO

alanw

There is an icon next to the price on the confirmation page and email that says "special web fare" so hopefully all will be OK.

Traveller

You are welcome! Enjoy the trip. And if it's on your itineraries (if it's a trip for you), it should be honored. Actually, it should be honored anyway but print that email out just in case!



Shhhhhh... we don't report bugs that work in our favor!

Bulldog King

I think it might be a bit more widespread.....

I just found an I fare for a LGA-NRT RT on 08/10/05-08/16/05.

Total ticket price (including taxes/fees): $3,738.96 (USD)

Delta 497 First (F) LGA 7:00am
10 Aug 2005 ATL 9:27am
10 Aug 2005 0

Delta 55 Business (I) ATL 10:25am
10 Aug 2005 NRT 1:25pm
11 Aug 2005 0

Delta 56 Business (I) NRT 3:30pm
16 Aug 2005 ATL 3:10pm
16 Aug 2005 0

Delta 1588 First (F) ATL 4:30pm
16 Aug 2005 LGA 6:47pm
16 Aug 2005 0

SkyMiles earned = 15222; MQM earned = 22834 (details)


On the fare rules for the "I", it says:

RESERVATIONS/TICKETING

RES REQ 3 DAYS BEFORE DEPART
TKTG WITHIN 7 DAYS AFTER RESERVATIONS
OR AT LEAST 3 DAYS BEFORE DEPART
WHICHEVER IS EARLIER ALL SEGMENTS
MUST BE CONFIRMED


Go figure......so much for the 50 day advance purchase requirement.

A.J.

vinnmann

Deleted

Traveller

I still get it on the BCN-SEA flights above for the same dates. You have to choose "Search by schedule" instead of letting the web pick the flights/times for you. But it's probably not available in all markets. I did search for JKF-TLV for Lahava, and the fare came out to almost $6000.

alanw

It looks like they're having a sale. KLM is doing something similar on this route (BCN-AMS-SEA on a NW codeshare for ~2900EUR) that books into Z (their version of I) right now as well.

alanw

Just a quick follow-up: CC charged this morning, e-tickets issued, and the DL sales office at BCN confirms that it's a real fare, not a mistake.

Yay!